Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Black Diamond Enduro CF Trekking Poles > Ben Neilson > Field Report

Reviewer Information:

Name: Ben Neilson      

Age: 30

Gender: Male

Height: 6’ 1” (185 cm)

Weight: 170 pounds (77 kg)

Email address: djbenno (at) hotmail (dot) com

City, State, Country: Seattle, Washington State, USA

Date: July 30, 2006

Reviewers Background:

I have been backpacking since a young boy with my family, and as I grew up, I learnt with the Boy Scouts how to pack a 50-pound (23 kg) load for an overnight trip.  Now, many years later I have made the jump to lightweight backpacking with my current weekend (3-day) load averaging 15 pounds (6.8 kg).   Most backpacking trips are solo high-mileage trips (with 20-30 miles [30-50 km] per day common) with high-elevation gains. Trips cover elevations from sea level to 14,000+ ft (0-4400 m) all seasons and variable weather conditions.  I am also an active climber, snowboarder, backcountry and alpine skier, and snowshoer, with preferences toward off-trail route finding and scrambling/peak bagging.

Backpacking information specifically related to this test:

I have used trekking poles whilst hiking for the nearly 10 years and have owned both aluminum and carbon fibre trekking poles from Life-Link, Komperdell, Leki, Black Diamond, and others.  I use trekking poles hard.  I do not abuse my poles, but I’ve broken many pole sections, tips, baskets, and handles.

Product Information:

Manufacturer:  Black Diamond

Year of Manufacture: Not Specified

URL:  http://www.bdel.com

Listed Weight: 18 oz/pair (510 g)

Weight as Delivered: 17.90 oz (507 g) with small trekking baskets, 17.60 oz (499 g) without baskets

Stowed Length: 24.8 inches (63 cm)

Extended Length: 55 inches (140 cm)

Color:  Orange Rust

MSRP: $110.00 US Dollars

Warranty:  1 Year

Field Test Report

Since posting my Initial Report in March 2006, I used the Black Diamond Enduro CF poles on many trips, and took particular notice of their performance on the following five trips.

First trip: March 2006, climb up (skin) then ski down Mt. St. Helens.  Elevations ranged

from 823 to 2,549 meters (2,700-8,364 feet) 27.03.2006, weather clear/sunny temperatures from 35 to 68 degrees F (19.5 to 38 degrees C), depending on elevation and time of day.  Mostly snow/ice, with limited amounts of exposed volcanic rock.

This was the first time I was able to use the poles without gloves.  On this trip I noted that the padded webbing wrist strap was comfortable, but because of the design, it does not adjust small enough to fit smaller/ungloved hands.  I generally wear a size Large in most all Men’s gloves, and the wrist straps had a proper fitment, but would were at the extreme limit of their range and would not go any smaller.

Handles were spongy soft and felt nice to grip, and insulated hands well from the cold aluminum shaft in cold weather.  I poled for nearly 2 miles (3 km) along a flat groomed cross-country ski trail during the approach.  All the while, the grips felt comfortable in hand and no sore spots developed.

Second Trip:  Climbing-Skiing Kendall Mountain 29.03.06, Up, Over, Around. 

Elevations were from 3,000-5,784 ft. (1,763 m) and just under 20 miles (32 km).  At some point near the end of the trip, I noticed once pole vibrating considerably more than the other.  This was during a long, low-grade traverse, and poles were in maximum extended length, and being used heavily to push off with each stride.  After a close visual inspection, I noticed the middle pole section had bent slightly.  The pole was still usable, but with the forces now unable to be translated directly down the vertical axis, additional bending would occur with additional heavy use.   I contacted Black Diamond and they immediately sent out a replacement pole section, which I promptly received via UPS.  Replacing the damaged pole section was a simple task.  After replacing the effected section, the poles once again performed (and looked) like new, and the vibration I was previously experiencing was now completely eliminated. 

Third Trip:  May of 2006 took me from Paradise 4 miles ( 6.5 km) to Camp Muir, on Mt

Rainier (5,600 up to 10,100 ft, or 1,700 to 3,078 m).  This trip turned out to be an uneventful up and back on skis in beautiful sunshine and blue sky.  Again, the poles did their job, and I didn’t worry about whether the poles could hold up, or if they’d leave me in a lurch, and as a result, I was able to focus on other things and enjoy the trip more.

Fourth Trip:  May 2006.  Kaleetan Peak 6,200 ft (1,890 m) in the Snoqualmie Pass area

of Washington State.  Temperatures were mild and ranged from 55 to 78 degrees F (13 to 25.5 degrees C) The elevation gain was 4,000 ft (1,219 m), across 12 miles (19.3 km) with lots of snow on the ground and helping to stabilize the loose rocks in the gully sections.  Poles really came in handy during the sections of boot skiing the soft spring snow during the return.

Fifth Trip:  In July of 2006, I was attending a family reunion near Ogden, UT.  With

temperatures pushing the 100-degree mark (38 degrees C) in the valley, I needed to get high and cool down a bit.  The Skyline Trail to Willard Peak (9,764 ft or 2,976 m) and Ben Lomond (9,712 ft or 2,960 m) seamed to be the perfect solution for a quick day hike.  Willard Peak is the highest peak in Weber County, UT and the northernmost peak in the Wasatch Mountains.  High on its flanks, a 15 mph breeze combined with the cooler air at higher elevation did just the trick.  Temps ranged from 80-95 degrees F (27-35 degrees F).  My trip was a variation on the standard access and about half the trip was off trail scrambling and cross country travel, and half on an established trail.  The Black Diamond Enduro CF poles performed as expected on the gentler patches, and packed away quickly and easily for the scrambles.  One section of the trip was side-hilling on 35 degree slope for about 2/3 mile (1km), and I appreciated the ease at which the FlickLock mechanism on the poles could be adjusted to compensate for the slope angle. 

Likes: Comfort of the padded webbing wrist strap

Effectiveness of wrist straps while using wrist-mounted GPS device (also did not interfere with wristwatch)

Benefit of extended foam grip while side-hilling (keeps one from having to constantly readjust pole length)

            Ease of adjusting the FlickLock mechanism

            They stay put at whatever length you set, and don’t slip in the least

            Durability, particularly when used as a downhill or cross country ski pole.

Dislikes: Difficulty of adjusting wrist straps in colder weather while wearing gloves

                Concern over the amount of bowing when poles are extended

                Limited range of wrist strap size

    Bent middle pole section (albeit under harsh use conditions)

Additional Testing Plans:  I plan to continue testing the Black Diamond Enduro CF

poles in several other areas including the Wind River Range, Yellowstone, Grand

Tetons (all in Wyoming), in addition to more testing locally in the Cascade Mountains. 

Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Black Diamond Enduro CF Trekking Poles > Ben Neilson > Field Report